A/2024 W2
ephemeris	date	magn	radius	delta	ra	dec	elong	phase	PA
Nearest approach	13 Dec 2024	20.7	3.782 AU	2.916 AU	04h13m	+52°56'	147.3°	8.1°	149°
Perihelion	27 Feb 2025	21.5	3.721 AU	3.874 AU	03h07m	+28°15'	73.8°	14.8°	71°
Today	20 May 2026	23.0	5.352 AU	6.005 AU	03h09m	-25°00'	46.0°	7.8°	193°

The interactive orbit chart above shows the comet's path through the solar system and its position at the given date. Green and blue lines are shown perpendicular to the ecliptic plane: Green if the path is above the ecliptic plane, blue if it is below. (Left-click and drag to rotate the view; Right-click and drag to move the view; Use scroll wheel to zoom in our out.)

Light curve

The light curve chart below shows the estimated development of the comet's magnitude. Blue and black dots are visual and photometric CCD observations from COBS. The displayed light curve is calculated under the assumption that the object remains inactive. (H=14.90; G=.15).

Charts

The all-sky chart below shows the path of the comet over the same period as the light curve. The comet's current position is marked yellow.

The following chart shows the short-term path of the comet in a field of view that is optimized for (~10x50) binoculars and finderscopes.

Orbital elements

The orbital elements of A/2024 W2 are:

    e (Eccentricity)                : 1.0021680
    q (Perihelion distance)         : 3.7213160
    i (Inclination)                 : 116.61440
    Ω (Longitude of ascending node) : 241.94060
    ω (Argument of perihelion)      : 168.02320
    L (Longitude of perihelion)     : 247.36925
    B (Latitude of perihelion)      : 10.69189
    T (Time of perihelion passage)  : 2460733.96910

    Epoch                           : 2026 May 19
    Reference                       : MPEC 2026-E44

    Classification(s):              : Nearly isotropic; New (a > 10000 AU)

Ephemerides

Date       Time       RA (2000)    DEC (2000)    delta   radius  elong  phase   PA    magn
2026-05-19 00:00 UT   03 08 02.0   -24 53 29     6.005    5.342   45.3    7.7   191   23.0 
2026-05-20 00:00 UT   03 08 36.5   -24 57 43     6.005    5.348   45.7    7.8   192   23.0 
2026-05-20 17:03 UT   03 09 01.0   -25 00 46     6.005    5.352   46.0    7.8   193   23.0 
2026-05-21 00:00 UT   03 09 11.0   -25 02 02     6.005    5.354   46.2    7.8   193   23.0 
2026-05-22 00:00 UT   03 09 45.3   -25 06 28     6.004    5.360   46.6    7.9   194   23.0 
2026-05-23 00:00 UT   03 10 19.6   -25 11 01     6.003    5.365   47.1    7.9   195   23.0 
2026-05-24 00:00 UT   03 10 53.8   -25 15 40     6.002    5.371   47.5    8.0   196   23.0 
2026-05-25 00:00 UT   03 11 27.9   -25 20 26     6.001    5.377   48.0    8.0   197   23.0 
2026-05-26 00:00 UT   03 12 01.8   -25 25 19     6.000    5.383   48.5    8.1   198   23.0 
2026-05-27 00:00 UT   03 12 35.7   -25 30 18     5.999    5.389   49.0    8.2   199   23.0 
2026-05-28 00:00 UT   03 13 09.5   -25 35 23     5.997    5.395   49.5    8.2   200   23.0 
2026-05-29 00:00 UT   03 13 43.1   -25 40 36     5.995    5.400   50.0    8.3   201   23.0 
2026-05-30 00:00 UT   03 14 16.6   -25 45 55     5.993    5.406   50.5    8.3   202   23.0 

    Terminology:
            
    delta:  distance between comet and earth in AU
    radius: distance between comet and sun in AU
    magn:   magnitude (brightness) estimate    
    ra:     right ascension in hours (24h = 360deg)
    dec:    declination in degrees
    elong:  elongation in degrees (angle sun-earth-comet)    
    phase:  phase angle in degrees (angle sun-comet-earth)        
    AU:     Astronomical Unit (mean distance between earth and sun: 149597870.7 km      
    

Orbital elements usually provided by the MPC (Minor Planet Center).
Observations contributed by observers worldwide, via COBS (Comet Observation Database) or the MPC (Minor Planet Center)
Calculations by a modified version of AAPlus, a C# implementation of the AA+ project by PJ Naughter from the algorithms presented in the book "Astronomical Algorithms" by Jean Meeus.
NGC2000 dso catalog and star labels from VizieR as provided by the Strasbourg astronomical Data Center.
Tycho2 catalog from the ESO archive.